Operating means for electro-mechanically ignited lighters

ABSTRACT

Operating means of an electro-mechanically ignited lighter, particularly a gas lighter, comprises a mechanical energy store connected to the ignition mechanism and to a manually operated crank mechanism. The crank mechanism includes a rotatable element, such as a disc, and turning of the rotatable element results in the transmission of energy to the energy store until the energy stored up therein is sufficient to operate the ignition mechanism.

United States Patent [1 1 Cobarg et al.

[ OPERATING MEANS FOR ELECTRO-MECHANICALLY IGNITED LIGHTERS [75] Inventors: Claus Christian Cobarg, Steinbach; Hans Schindler, Egelsbach, both of Germany [73] Assignee: Braun Aktiengesellschaft,

Frankfurt/Main, Germany [22] Filed: Feb. 6, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 330,049

[52] US. Cl .1 431/256, 74/97, 317/93 [51] Int. Cl. F23q 2/28 [58] Field of Search 431/255, 256, 257; 317/93;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Fanre 74/97 [451 May 7, 1974 3,602,622 8/1971 Cobarg 431/256 Primary Examiner-Edward G. Fabors Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Ernest F. Marmorek [5 7] ABSTRACT Operating means of an electro-mechanically ignited lighter, particularly a gas lighter, comprises a mechanical energy store connected to the ignition mechanism and to a manually operated crank mechanism. The crank mechanism includes a rotatable element, such as a disc, and turning of the rotatable element results in the transmission of energy to the energy store until the energy stored up therein is sufficient to operate the ignition mechanism.

8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures OPERATING MEANS FOR ELECTRO-MECI-IANICALLY IGNITED LIGHTERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to operating means of an electro-mechanically ignited lighter.

Lighters are known which produce electric sparks by means of electro-magnetic arrangements, for example, by means of piezo-electric impact or pressure devices, or by means of magnetic induction devices which involve the movement of an armature out of engagement with pole pieces of a magnet. The sparks which are obtained serve to ignite petrol-air or gaseous fuel-air mixtures.

With such operating means a force of several kiloponds is required in order to obtain the necessary striking or breaking power of the energy store employed. Since the operating means must be hand-operated, i.e. the lighter is held in one hand and the igniting lever then moved, only a single finger is normally available for moving the lever. The average force which can be generated by a single finger is, however, less than the several kiloponds that are required and hence multiplying lever mechanisms must be employed.

The multiplying lever mechanisms which have been used have been regarded as adequate, although the long lever paths required have meant the housings of the lighters being substantially larger than would otherwise be necessary. The present invention accordingly has as one of its objects the provision of operating means which does not include a multiplying lever mechanism. A further object of the invention is the provision of operating means which is such as to facilitate sealing of the lighter housing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention accordingly provides operating means comprising a mechanical energy store coupled to a manually operated crank mechanism. A first advantage of such operating means is that the turning movement obtained on operation of the crank mechanism occupies less space than a comparable linear movement.

An additional advantage is that sealing of the lighter housing can be improved. The entry of dust and dirt into the housing, which can arise particularly with pocket lighters, can lead to insulation problems with the high tension part of the igniter mechanism. Considerable importance thus attaches to sealing of the housing and this is much simpler when the operating means comprises rotating parts rather than linearly movable parts. I

The mechanical energy store is preferable coupled to the crank mechanism in such manner that, during deflection of the crank mechanism out of an inoperative position, the distance moved by the point of connection of the mechanical energy store to the crank mechanism is dependent on the sine of the angle through which the crank mechanism is moved.

An advantage of the above arrangement, as compared with a lever mechanism with fixed lever arm relationships, is that the variable leverage of the crank mechanism enables one to obtain short paths for low power inputs and long paths for high power inputs whereby a comfortable and balanced single-finger operation is obtainable.

The crank mechanism may be coupled to the opening means of a gas valve of a gas lighter, the opening mean comprising a lever the point of connection of which to the crank mechanism moves through a distance which is substantially proportional to the sine of the angle through which the crank mechanism is turned. This arrangement ensures that the gas valve is opened very slowly against the full internal pressure in the gas tank. Since the pressure at which the gas issues from the valve increases progressively during out-flow of the gas because of the throttle effect of the gas valve, slow opening of the valve prevents high out-flow speeds at the commencement of opening of the valve. Such rapid out-flow of gas could carry with it droplets of liquid through the valve outlet and lead to combustion troubles.

The gas valve is preferably positioned in register with a flame opening of the lighter housing, such opening normally being closed by a slidable member connected to the crank mechanism and movable into a position clear of the flame opening on operation of the crank mechanism.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a slightly diagrammatic vertical sectional view of a pocket cigarette lighter having an electromechanically operated igniter mechanism.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic representation illustrating a second form of operating means for the igniter mechanism, and

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the lighter shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The lighter shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 includes a housing 9 of generally rectangular form in plan view and in elevation, a rotatable disc 8 being disposed exteriorly of one of the side walls of the housing and having a serrated or otherwise formed operating knob 81 to facilitate manual rotation of the disc. The disc 8 is mounted on a spindle 10 which passes through an opening in said wall of the housing, sealing means in the form of an annular element 101 of a resiliently deformable synthetic plastics material being attached to the interior of the housing wall so as to surround the spindle l0 and prevent the entry of dust and dirt into the housing.

A lever l is fixedly connected to the spindle l0 and forms a part of a crank mechanism which also comprises a connecting rod 2 pivotally connected at its one end to the lever 1 by a pin 11. The rod 2 is connected at its other end to an energy storage device 3 by means of a pin 21. The energy storage device 3 is in the form of a leaf spring which is connected to the armature 40 of a magnetic igniter 4. In the at rest or inoperative condition of the lighter, the lever 1 extends in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the leaf spring 3 and the direction of movement of the pin 1 1 when the disc 8 is initially turned is in the direction indicated by the arrow S, and it is at right angles to the direction in which the lever 1 extends.

When the lever 1 is turned through an angle a, the end of the leaf spring 3 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow S the distance by which the end of the spring is moved being dependent on the sine of the angle through which the lever 1 and disc 8 are rotated.

The degree of rotation of the disc 8 is limited by abutment of the lever 1 with a stop element in the form of a pin 13 fixed to the housing 9. The pin 13 is so positioned that the crank mechanism is free to move through and beyond a dead centre position in which the lever 1 and the rod 2 are aligned, actuation of the igniter 4 being effected when the crank mechanism is at or closely approaching said dead centre position. After ignition has been effected the leaf spring 3 retains a degree of residual potential such as to bias the lever 1 into engagement with the stop pin 13 and to prevent undesired rotation of the lever l and disc 8 into their original positions. if the lighter is a gas lighter of which the valve opening mechanism and the igniter actuating mechanism are mechanically coupled, the flame will continue to burn until the disc 8 is returned manually to its original position. This means that the lighter can be passed to another user while still alight.

The magnetic igniter 4 includes, in known manner, a yoke 41 and a coil 42 as well as a number of auxiliary parts which are not shown. When the lever l is turned from the position shown in FIG. 1 through 90 into the dead centre position of the crank mechanism, a high voltage discharge is produced by withdrawal of the armature 40 from the yoke 41, this being effectedwhen sufficient energy has built up in the leaf spring 3 to overcome the magnetic attraction forces acting on the armature. The high voltage discharge is conveyed by conductors 43 to electrodes 44 located inside a gas jet 60. The spark which is obtained ignites the mixture of gaseous fuel and air issuing through a valve 6 from a tank 5, the tank 5 being provided at its lower end with a filler support member 51.

Opening of the valve 6 is effected by means of a toggle lever 7 on downward movement of the toggle lever. The lever l carries a pin 12 intermediate its ends and it is this pin which engages the lever 7 to open the valve 6. In an alternative arrangement (not shown), the lever 7 is actuated by a crank connecting rod which is dis posed approximately parallel to the lever 1 when the valve 6 is open. The housing 9 has a flame opening 90 through which the gas jet 60 is arranged to issue, this flame opening 90 normally being closed by a rotatable slide valve 82 connected to, so as to be rotatable with, the disc 8.

As shown in FIG. 3, the disc 8 projects only a limited amount beyond the adjacent side .wall of the housing. If desired, however, the wall of the housing may be recessed with the operating disc 8 substantially housed with the recess. In another arrangement, however, an opening is formed in the wall of the housing, the periphery of the disc being a close sealing fit with the boundary of said opening. In such case, the lever 1 may be omitted and the connecting rod 2 may be pivoted directly to the disc 8.

FIG. 2 of the drawings illustrates a modified form of crank mechanism, the disc 8 carrying a projecting pin 110 spaced from the spindle 10 and arranged to bear on the leaf spring 3. The parts of the mechanism are shown in FIG. 2 in their inoperative positions. Rotation of the disc 8 causes progressively increasing deflection of the spring 3 with the free end of the spring moving initially in the direction indicated by the arrow S As the potential energy stored up in the spring 3 increases with continued rotation of the disc, a position is reached in which withdrawal of the armature 40 of the igniter 4 can be effected to create a spark in the manner described above. The housing of the lighter may be formed with an arcuate slot (not shown) through which the pin projects, the slot being substantially closed by means of a piece of resiliently deformable soft plastics material which has a slit in it to receive the pin 110. In a modification of the arrangement shown in FIG. 2, the disc 8 is disposed externally of the housing and is connected by the spindle 10 to a rotatable element within the housing. The rotatable element may be in the form of a lever such as lever l and has a projecting pin 110 for engagement with the spring 3. Sealing of the housing is then effected by means of an annular plastics washer fitted around the spindle 10.

The arrangements described above can be used in the same manner if, in place of the leaf spring 3, the mechanical energy store of, for example, a striking system for piezoelectric ignition is substituted for it.

What is claimed is:

LA smokers lighter comprising a housing, an ignition mechanism in said housing, a mechanical energy store connected to said ignition mechanism and a manually operable crank mechanism coupled to said mechanical energy store in such a manner that the rotation of said crank mechanism results in the transmission of energy to said mechanical energy store until the level of energy therein is sufficient to operate said ignition mechanism, said housing having a flame opening, said crank mechanism having a sliding member attached thereto for controlling the closing of said flame opening.

2. A smokers lighter according to claim 1, wherein the crank mechanism comprises a lever and a connecting rod contained within the housing, the lever being fixed to a spindle which passes through a wall of the housing and an operating disc being mounted on said spindle.

3. A smokers lighter according to claim 2, wherein sealing means for the housing include an annular plastics element surrounding said spindle.

4. A smokers lighter according to claim 1, wherein the crank mechanism is movable into and through a dead centre position, said movement of the crank mechanism beyound said dead centre position being limited by engagement with a stop and the mechanical energy store being operative to bias the crank mechanism into engagement with the stop to restrain return movement thereof into its original position.

5. Operating means for an electro-mechanically ignited lighter, said operating means comprising a mechanical energy store, a manually operable crank mechanism coupled to said mechanical energy store, said crank mechanism being movable into and through a dead center position, and a stop for engaging said crank mechanism and for limiting the movement thereof beyond said dead center position.

6. Operating means according to claim 5, wherein the mechanical energy store is coupled to the crank mechanism in such way that, during deflection of the crank mechanism out of an inoperative condition, the distance moved by the point of connection of the mechanical energy store to the crank mechanism is dependent on the sine of the angle through which the crank mechanism is moved.

7. Operating means according to claim 5 and for use in a gas lighter having an operable gas valve, wherein the crank mechanism is coupled to the opening means of the gas valve.

8. Operating means according to claim 5, wherein the mechanical energy store is operative, on movement of the crank mechanism beyond its dead centre position,

to bias said mechanism into engagement with the stop. it t i l 

1. A smokers lighter comprising a housing, an ignition mechanism in said housing, a mechanical energy store connected to said ignition mechanism and a manually operable crank mechanism coupled to said mechanical energy store in such a manner that the rotation of said crank mechanisM results in the transmission of energy to said mechanical energy store until the level of energy therein is sufficient to operate said ignition mechanism, said housing having a flame opening, said crank mechanism having a sliding member attached thereto for controlling the closing of said flame opening.
 2. A smoker''s lighter according to claim 1, wherein the crank mechanism comprises a lever and a connecting rod contained within the housing, the lever being fixed to a spindle which passes through a wall of the housing and an operating disc being mounted on said spindle.
 3. A smoker''s lighter according to claim 2, wherein sealing means for the housing include an annular plastics element surrounding said spindle.
 4. A smoker''s lighter according to claim 1, wherein the crank mechanism is movable into and through a dead centre position, said movement of the crank mechanism beyound said dead centre position being limited by engagement with a stop and the mechanical energy store being operative to bias the crank mechanism into engagement with the stop to restrain return movement thereof into its original position.
 5. Operating means for an electro-mechanically ignited lighter, said operating means comprising a mechanical energy store, a manually operable crank mechanism coupled to said mechanical energy store, said crank mechanism being movable into and through a dead center position, and a stop for engaging said crank mechanism and for limiting the movement thereof beyond said dead center position.
 6. Operating means according to claim 5, wherein the mechanical energy store is coupled to the crank mechanism in such way that, during deflection of the crank mechanism out of an inoperative condition, the distance moved by the point of connection of the mechanical energy store to the crank mechanism is dependent on the sine of the angle through which the crank mechanism is moved.
 7. Operating means according to claim 5 and for use in a gas lighter having an operable gas valve, wherein the crank mechanism is coupled to the opening means of the gas valve.
 8. Operating means according to claim 5, wherein the mechanical energy store is operative, on movement of the crank mechanism beyond its dead centre position, to bias said mechanism into engagement with the stop. 